Saturday, February 12, 2011

United States Love Stamps

This postcard is part of the 25th Anniversary Collection of Jumbo Postcards issued by the USPS in 1998. Other cards in the set show enlargements of individual love stamp designs.

The first U. S. love stamp was an 8¢ stamp issued in 1973 with a design by the artist Robert Indiana. The second love stamp was issued nine years later in 1982 and had the word LOVE spelled by flowers. Most years since then have had a new love stamp. Some years have had more than one stamp, with different denominations.

All of the stamps were issued at the then current one ounce or two ounce first class rate. The rate is shown on the stamp. New one ounce "Love" stamps will be issued as "Forever" stamps and can be used indefinitely for any 1st Class letter or card. The 2 ounces stamp was primarily issued for use on wedding invitations which generally weighed more than one ounce.

Full sets (20 cards) are frequently available on eBay for between $5 & $10. The 25th Anniversary sets include 18 cards (one for each of the stamps shown on the cover) plus 2 cards (showing all 18 of the stamps as shown above).